Canterbury MP Julian Brazier says Britain has to accept the invasion of Iraq has fuelled attacks like the murder of a soldier in London yesterday.

The Tory, who served as an officer in the Territorial Army for 13 years, says the war and “botched rebuilding” of the country has played a part in radicalising young muslims.

He was speaking after an off-duty-serving soldier was hacked to death in Woolwich by two men believed to be Islamist extremists.

He said: “The horrible and bloodthirsty attack on the soldier is shocking.

“I fully support our current British foreign policy, but we have to accept that our botched actions in Iraq, which resulted in images of dead civilians being released, have had a role in radicalising young muslims.

“We know the vast majority of the muslim community is peaceful but bloodshed on the streets of Britain is just what extremists want to see...” - Julian Brazier

"But I also condemn any reprisal attacks on mosques or muslims.

“We know the vast majority of the muslim community is peaceful but bloodshed on the streets of Britain is just what extremists want to see.”

Mr Brazier criticised the decision by national news outlets to televise a video of one of the alleged killers after the mid-afternoon attack.

He said: “It just gave the extremists more oxygen. It was like saying 'now let's hear from the killer'."

He also lays some of the blame for terrorist attacks in Britain on failed or blocked moves to deport preachers of hate and terror from the country.

He said: "They have just allowed the worse form of extremism to flourish."